Dilfer: NFL will drool over Cam Newton

Dilfer wanted to be prepared for what he would observe Thursday at Newton's media workout Thursday in San Diego.

Dilfer wasn't adequately prepared. He was blown away.

"He's going to skyrocket up the boards," Dilfer said.

The Buffalo Bills might have a big decision to make on Newton when they draft third overall. Even if they're happy with Ryan Fitzpatrick for now, a dynamic quarterback is needed to challenge for the AFC East title, let alone a Super Bowl.

The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos aren't expected to take a quarterback when they pick first and second. But Dilfer stated Newton will give every team something to consider as long as he remains on the draft board.

"The ceiling is so astronomically high for this player, Cam Newton, that the scouts, the GMs, the coaches are really going to be slobbering about the prospects of having him on their team," Dilfer said.

Thursday's workout was a preview of what teams will see in two weeks at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Dilfer shared his thoughts on Newton's display.

"A few things jumped out at me," Dilfer said. "First of all, his physical prowess, his stature. I mean, Cam Newton is a giant, giant man. He dwarfed me, and I'm 6-4, 240 pounds. Just the presence was amazing.

"The other thing was how the ball jumped off his hand. This is a guy that has a powerful arm. George Whitfield, his quarterback coach, has done a masterful job, coaching him from the feet up. He showed great balance. He showed great foot energy, as he did drop back and take snaps from under center.

"The third thing is that he has quarterback-passer DNA, and that's the thing we weren't sure about him because he was such a great athlete. This is a guy that in his workout threw about 30 very challenging throws, and each one of those throws he kept his eyes down the center of the football field, spun his eyes back to the perimeter and delivered the ball early with anticipation. This is a gifted, gifted passer."

ESPN reporter Shelley Smith, her hair flying in the wind as she asked, wondered how impressive a workout in shorts and a T-shirt really was.

"These were challenging throws," Dilfer countered. "These were throws down the football field into a pretty stiff wind. ... This wind is blowing probably 10, 15 mph in his face. He knifed the ball through the wind. He controlled it very well. The ball spins very well off his hand."